Female die and workpiece support arrangement for a press

ABSTRACT

Opposed cylindrical members are provided in opposed support members or means to provide a female die for a press. A plurality of opposed support members or means may be arranged for receiving cylindrical members therein in axial alignment and end-to-end relationship to provide a female die of desired longitudinal extent for a press. The support means are each provided with cylindrical surfaces arranged in end-to-end relationship for contacting and cradling said cylindrical members substantially throughout their longitudinal extent and over a substantial portion of their circumferential extent or surface area. Thus, when a workpiece is placed on the opposed cylindrical members and engaged on the opposite side by a male die of a press to force the workpiece in the space between the opposed cylindrical members to form the workpiece, the opposed cylindrical members may freely rotate in said support memers while transmitting the load applied to the workpiece from the cylindrical members to the support members over a maximum surface area. The support members are carried on a carriage and means are provided to quickly and easily adjust and regulate the distance between the opposed cylindrical female die members as desired. A support is provided for the workpiece to support it as it is formed including a carriage mounted on rollers which is in turn engaged on tracks so that the carriage can be moved toward and away from the press.

ilted States Patent 1 Thatcher FEMALE DIE AND WORKPIECE SUPPORTARRANGEMENT FOR A PRESS [75] Inventor: Russell S. Thatcher, Alvin, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Kelso Marine, Inc., Galveston, Tex.

[22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 71,795

[52] U.S. Cl 72/383, 72/386, 72/389 [51] Int. Cl B21d 5/02, B21d 9/05,B21d 9/14,

B2ld 31/00 [58] Field of Search 72/383, 386, 389,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,085,487 2/1956 Germany 72/3891,221,933 2/1959 France 72/383 1 July 31, 1973 Primary Examiner-CharlesW. Lanham Assistant ExaminerE. M. Combs Att0rneyJack W. Hayden [57]ABSTRACT Opposed cylindrical members are provided in opposed supportmembers or means to provide a female die for a press. A plurality ofopposed support members or means may be arranged for receivingcylindrical members therein in axial alignment and end-to-endrelationship to provide a female die of desired longitudinal extent fora press. The support means are each provided with cylindrical surfacesarranged in end-to-end relationship for contacting and cradling saidcylindrical members substantially throughout their longitudinal extentand over a substantial portion of their circumferential extent orsurface area. Thus, when a workpiece is placed on the opposedcylindrical members and engaged on the opposite side by a male die of apress to force the workpiece in the space between the opposedcylindrical members to form the workpiece, the opposed cylindricalmembers may freely rotate in said support memers while transmitting theload applied to the workpiece from the cylindrical members to thesupport members over a maximum surface area. The support members arecarried on a carriage and means are provided to quickly and easilyadjust and regulate the distance between the opposed cylindrical femaledie members as desired. A support is provided for the workpiece tosupport it as it is formed including a carriage mounted on rollers whichis in turn engaged on tracks so that the carriage can be moved towardand away from the press.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU JUL3 1 I973 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENIEBJUL 3 1 i975 SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENIEU JUL 3 1 I975 SHEET 3 BF 3 FEMALE DIEAND WORKPIECE SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT FOR A PRESS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention provides a relatively simple female diearrangement for a press comprising opposed cylindrical members rotatablyengaged and cradled by a cylindrical surface of support members wherebysubstantial loads may be applied to a workpiece carried by the femaledies. Also, this arrangement inhibits damage to the workpiece beingformed or working of the metal workpiece as it is formed by a male dieof a press in cooperation with the cylindrical female die members.

The support members are carried on a carriage in a manner so that theymay be spaced apart quickly and easily and maintained in such spacedrelationship even under extreme loads as the workpiece is formed. Thesupport arms on the carriage which support the workpiece are providedwith rollers for engaging the workpiece so that as the workpiece isformed and a portion thereof deflected upwardly, the support arms maypivot upwardly to thereby maintain engagement with the elevated portionof the workpiece and provide support therefor.

Various forms of female die arrangements have been suggested and areshown in the prior art including U.S. Pat. No. 1,965,716 issued on July10, I934; U.S. Pat. No. 2,650,637 issued on Sept. 1, 1953; U.S. Pat. No.3,209,576 issued on Oct. 5, 1965 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,271,990 issued onSept. 13, 1966, all of which show various die arrangements for a pressor apparatus for forming or bending metal workpieces.

It will be noted that all of such art includes rather complicatedmechanism that is the female die arrangement of presses. Also, such diearrangements are somewhat difficult to adjust or regulate insofar aspositioning one part of the female die relative to another part.

Additionally, in those instances where substantial loads are to beapplied to metal workpieces in the fortning thereof, it is necessarythat the female die receive support over a substantial surface area toavoid damage or deformation thereto as the loads are applied.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a female diearrangement for a press wherein substantial loads are adapted to beapplied to the dies in the forming of a workpiece, such dies beingsupported in a manner so that they are in continuous contact with thesupport surfaces throughout a substantial extent of their peripheralarea to thereby transmit the load from the female die to the support andthence in turn to a carriage which carries the support members withoutcreating undue stresses in any specific part of the carriage and thestructure supporting it.

Another object is to provide a female die arrangement for a pressincluding opposed cylindrical members whereby the cylindrical membersmay rotate about their longitudinal axis as a workpiece is forceddonwardly in the space between the opposed dies so as to inhibit dieabrasion of the workpiece.

Yet a further object is to provide a female die arrangement ofsubstantial longitudinal extent including a plurality of axially alignedcylindrical rotatable members in end-to-end relation in two rows ofsupport members to form a female die of desired longitudinal extent andwhich provides a die arrangement wherein substantial loads may beapplied thereto to form a workpiece.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a female diearrangement for a press wherein the distance or space between the rowsof cylindrical members forming the female die may be quickly and easilyregulated.

Yet a further object is to provide a female die for a press wherein asupport member supports a cylindrical member over a substantial portionof its area to aid in keeping heavy grease between the cylindricalmember and the support to facilitate rotation of the cylindrical memberwithin the support without squirting the grease out from between thecylindrical member and support.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a female diearrangement for a press including opposed cylindrical members carriedand supported in engagement with support members having a cylindricalsurface for engaging the opposed cylindrical die members and a carriagefor supporting the support members, the carriage also including supportarms extending laterally from one side of one of the support members andthe support arms being pivotally mounted on the carriage whereby aworkpiece may be placed on the carriage and over the female dies andthen the support arms pivoted as the workpiece is formed to maintainengagement and support thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from consideration ofthe following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the carriage in dotted outline inthe left-hand side of FIG. 1 and the track means therefor and showing onthe right-hand side of FIG. 1 a diagrammatic sectional view of a presswith the carriage moved into position and the female dies thereon with apartial showing of a workpiece in position on the carriage and on thefemale dies to be formed by the press;

FIG. 2.is an end view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing an endelevational view of a hydraulic press with a female die therein and thecarriage and female die arrangement of the present invention positionedwithin the press and ready to form a workpiece carried on the carriageand female die;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but shows the relationship of thesupport arms on the carriage when they move upwardly as the workpiece isdeformed by engagement of the male die against the workpiece and betweenthe cylindrical opposed members of the female die;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the carriage illustrating ingreater detail the arrangement of the opposed cylindrical members andthe opposed supports therefor, which supports straddle the serratedmembers extending laterally across the carriage. It will be noted thatthe opposed cylindrical members are axially aligned and in end-to-endrelationship to form a female die of desired extent. One of the supportarms which is pivotally mounted on the carriage is also illustrated;

FIG. 5 is an end view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing one end inelevation of the carriage, and showing further details of the serratedhold down block members and their relationship to the opposed supportmembers and serrated members mounted on the carriage; v

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a male die member engagingand forming a workpiece between the opposed cylindrical female diemembers and the manner of engagement of the opposed cylindrical fe- FIG.7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4

and shows in greater detail the arrangement and relationship of thesupport arms on the carriage and their relation to the opposedcylindrical female die members. The dotted outline form indicates theposition of the support arms as the workpiece shown in solid sectionline thereon is formed whereby the support arms maintain engagement withthe workpiece as it is formed and a portion thereof elevated;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 to illustratefurther details of the support members and their relation to theserrated members on the carriage;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 illustrating stillfurther structural details of the pivot arrangement for the supportarms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, a hydraulic press isreferred to generally by the numeral on the right-hand side of suchfigure. It includes a plurality of vertically extending, spacedstructural support members 21 on each side of the press and suitablehorizontal load bearing support members referred to generally by thenumeral 23 for supporting the loads applied during operation of thehydraulic press. In FIG. 1, the vertically extending structural members21 are illustrated as being in section in order that the relationship ofthe carriage referred to generally by the numeral 25 may be illustratedwhen in position in the hydraulic press, such carriage being referred toat 26 in dotted line showing it moved away from the press on theleft-hand side of FIG. 1. The carriage 25 is moved on the spaced trackmeans 30 as shown in FIG. IySUCh track means extending longitudinallythrough the press and to the left thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. Thecarriage 25 carries a female die arrangement referred to generally at 33and in the form of the invention shown for purpose of illustration only,the female die arrangement 33 extends longitudinally throughout theextent of the carriage. A plurality of support arms 35 extend from oneside of the female die arrangement 33 and are arranged at spacedintervals longitudinally along the carriage 25 for supporting aworkpiece, a portion of a workpiece being illustrated in elevation at 36in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, an end view of the press 20 is illustrated and this viewincludes the top section 37 of the press from which depends the male diereferred to generally by the numeral 37. The carriage 25 is providedwith roller means 38 at suitably spaced intervals longitudinally thereoffor engaging the track means 30 whereby the carriage means 25 may bemoved towards and away from the press 20. The workpiece 36 isillustrated as being carried by the support arms 35 and the female diearrangement 33 which die arrangement is carried by the carriage 25;

FIG. 3 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 2, and it will be noted thatthe male die 37 has been moved downwardly so that the workpiece 36 isengaged between the male die 37' and forced into the space between thefemale die 33 for forming the workpiece in a predetermined manner. Itwill also be noted that the support arms 35 are connected by means ofthe piston rod 40 which is connected to a piston (not shown) within thetwo-way acting hydraulic cylinder 41 so that the workpiece 36 may beengaged at all times by the support arms 35. It can be appreciated thatthe workpiece 36 canbe of substantial size and may have reinforcingmembers on the portion thereof which is carried on the support arm 35that further increases its weight. To avoid undue stresses on theworkpiece and to maintain it in proper position, the support means 35 ispositioned at spaced intervals longitudinally of the carriage 25 toprovide proper support for the workpiece 36 as it is formed.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 4 of the drawings wherein thecarriage 25 is referred to in greater detail. The carriage 25 is formedof suitable longitudinally extending members 45 which are connected withcross bracing members 47 at spaced longitudinal intervals to provide thenecessary strength and rigidity to the carriage. The carriage alsoincludes a portion represented at 50 which has additional longitudinallyextending members 51 connected together by the cross members 52, theportion 50 providing additional strength to the carriage 25 to withstandthe loads imposed during the forming of the workpiece 36.

The portion 50 of the carriage 25 extends longitudinally of the carriage25 and is arranged so that it is aligned with the male die 37' when thecarriage 25 is moved into the press. The portion 50 of the carriage 25also provides a support 55 for the female die arrangement 33.

The female die arrangement 33 includes opposed cylindrical members and61 which are rotatably carried in the opposed support members 62 and 63respectively.

Means referred to generally by the numeral 65 in FIGS. 4 and 5 areprovided for regulating the distance between the opposed support members62 and 63 so as to maintain the opposed cylindrical members 60 and 61 apredetermined distance apart, as will be described. The opposedcylindrical members 60 and 61 are preferably solid to withstand theloads imposed as the workpiece 36 is formed The opposed support members62 and 63 each include a cylindrical surface 62a and 63a better seen inFIG. 5, in which the opposed cylindrical members are received. It willbe noted that the cylindrical surfaces 620 and 63a conform with thecylindrical members 60 and 61 to thereby provide a means foraccommodating rotation of the members 60 and 61 during the forming ofthe workpiece 36. Also, as noted in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cylindricalsurfaces 62a and 63a of the opposed support members 62 and 63 surround asubstantial surface portion of each of the cylindrical members 60 and61, and as illustrated are shown as surrounding approximately fiftypercent of such members. Also, the support members are of substantiallythe same longitudinal extent as the cylindrical member supportedthereby. The amount of surface area contact between the support members62 and 63 and the re spective cylindrical members 60 and 61 that arecarried thereby may be varied, but is such that the members 60 and 61will not become dislodged or disengaged from the support members 62 and63 as the male die 37 engages the workpiece 36 and deforms it betweenthe spaced cylindrical members 60 and 61 as schematically illustrated inFIG. 6 of the drawings. Also, the surface contact between thecylindrical members and support members aids in distributing the heavyloads imposed more uniformly over a larger area. If desired, andpreferably, a suitable lubricant such as heavy grease or the like may beemployed between the cylindrical members 60 and 61 and their respectivecylindrical surfaces 62a and 63a to facilitate rotation of the members60 and 61 in their respective supports as the workpiece is formed. IMeans 65 are provided for enabling the support members 62 and 63 to beeasily moved apart on the carriage 25 for regulating the distancebetween the opposed cylindrical members 60 and 61, such adjusting andregulating means including the elongated members referred to generallyat 70 in FIG. 4 which are arranged at spaced intervals longitudinally ofthe portion 50 of the carriage at 25 and extend partially across thecarriage from each side of each of the support members 62 and 63. Themeans 65 also include the holding or hold down block members 74 whichabut the rear edge of each of the members 62 and 63. The elongatedmembers 70 include upwardly facing serrations 72 which mate with thedownwardly facing serrations 73 formed on the removable holding block74- used with each of the support members 62 and 63. When it is desiredto vary the distance between the opposed cylindrical members 60 and 61,the removable holding block 74 is lifted and the support means 62 and 63are manually shifted longitudinally of each of the members of 70 untilthe desired distance between the opposed cylin drical members 60 and 61is attained. The blocks 74 are then repositioned to bear against the therear of means 62 and 63 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 to mate serrations72 and 73 so as to maintain the support members 62 and 63 in anypredetermined position which regulates and maintains the desireddistance between the opposed, cylindrical members 60 and 61 as theworkpiece is formed.

The support members 62 and 63 and the cylindrical members 60 and 61 aretoo heavy to be lifted, but may be shifted along the plate 55a securedto and extending between longitudinal members 51. The support members62, 63 each respectively include the body 620, 63c in which cylindricalsurfaces 62a, 63a are formed and depending side members 62d, 63d whichare connected to their respective bodies 62c, 63c. The side members reston plate 55a asshown in the drawings. As more clearly illustrated inFIG. 8, the support members straddle the elongated serrated members 70with the body 620 and body 63c being spaced above the members 70. Themembers 70 are also positioned on the plate 55a.

The cylindrical members 60 and 61 are cradled within the cylindricalsurfaces 62a and 63a as previously noted, and for all practical purposesthis is the only means employed for retaining the opposed cylindricalmeans 60 and 61 within their respective support members 62 and 63.

As also noted in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the cylindrical members 60 and61 and the support members 62 and 63 are of relative limitedlongitudinal extent in relation to the total extent or length of thecarriage 25 and a'plurality is axially aligned in end-to-endrelationship as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings so as to provide asubstantially continuous surface as if the cylindrical members 60 and 61were of the same extent as the length of the female die if formed of onemember rather than a plurality of individual members. However, it isbelieved that by providing a plurality of individual members suchmembers will, under load, roll or rotate more easily within theirrespective cylindrical surfaces 620 and 63a of the support members 62and 63 then if they were formed from one long piece of bar stock.

In FIG. 7 the metal workpiece is referred to again by the numeral 36 andis shown in enlarged cross section. The support arms are referred toagain generally by the numeral 35. It will be noted that in FIG. 4 thesupport arm is also referred to at 35 and includes an elongated plate 86which is connected at one end 80 to a cylindrical member 81 which is ofthe same shape as the cylindrical members 60 and 61 and is also cradledin a support member as will be described herein; however itslongitudinal extent need not be the same as the cylindrical members 60and 61. Referring to FIG. 7 it will be noted that the cylindrical member81 is carried in a support member 82 which support is provided with acylindrical surface 82a for accommodating rotation of the cylindricalmember 81 as the support member 35 is elevated. The support member 82includes body 82c and connected side members 82d depending therefrom andresting on surface 55a. The member 82 straddles one of the elongatedmembers 70, as do each of the members 62 and 63 and its body 82c isspaced above the serrated member as shown in FIG. 8. Suitable means maybe provided for efiecting elevation of the support arm or support member35 as the workpiece is deformed between the male die 37 and female die33, which, for purposes of illustration, is shown as including thedouble acting hydraulic cylinder 41 having the connections 41a on eachside of a piston within the cylinder,which piston is connected to thepiston rod 40. The piston rod 40 is secured at its outermost end 40a toa pivot pin 40b mounted on the support arm 35. An enlarged roller 85 ismounted at the outer end of the support member 35 as shown in solid lineview of FIG. 7 and this, in turn, engages the plate 86, which plate issecured at one end to the cylindrical roller 81 in any suitable meansand is shown as being secured in a notch 87 formed in the cylindricalsurface of the cylindrical member 81. The plate 86 is provided with aplurality of rollers 90 carried thereby and arranged at spaced intervalsthroughout the longitudinal extent thereof for engaging the workpiece 36to more readily facilitate movement of the workpiece relative to theplate 86 as the workpiece 36 is formed and elevated.

The support member 35 is pivotally secured to one end of a holding orhold down member 74 by means of the pivot pin 88 to enable the supportmember 35 to elevate when power is supplied to the cylinder 41 to urgethe support member 35 upwardly along with the plate 86 and the portionof the workpiece supported thereby.

By referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that theportion 36a of workpiece 36 carried on the support arm 35 which extendsfrom one side of one of the cylindrical members forming the female dieis elevated substantially higher than the portion 36b during the formingoperation. Thus, as the plate 36 is formed, power may be supplied to thecylinders 41 which are connected with the various support members 35extending at spaced intervals throughout the carriage 25 to aid inmaintaining the portion 36a of the workpiece 36 as viewed in FIG. 3 inits elevated position. The roller means 90 engage the workpiece 36 andlessen the frictional engagement that would otherwise occur, andsimilarly, the roller engages the plate 86 to reduce the friction.

This arrangement provides support for the portion of the workpiece 36resting on the support members 35 during the forming thereof to inhibitimproper deflection or bending of the workpiece, which might otherwiseoccur in relatively large members which are being formed in the press.

In FIG. 8 a load transfer plate 82 is shown which is welded or otherwiseconnected to body 820 and arms 82d for transferring load as will bedescribed. Each of the support members 62 and 63 also are similarly constructed. The support member includes the means 65 previously describedfor accommodating spacing of the support members 82 to maintain thecylindrical members 81 in alignment with the cylindrical members 61. Thearrangement of the support members 82 is such that as the male dieengages the workpiece and deforms it in cooperation with the femaledies, the load is transmitted from the support members or means 62, 63and 82 to the carriage.

For example, when the carriage is moved into the press as previouslydescribed, suitable means such as hydraulic cylinders or the like (notshown) may be actuated to elevate rollers 38 slightly. When this occurs,the carriage will rest upon the load bearing members represented at 100in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The large surface area of contact between the rotatable cylindricalmembers and their respective supports transmits the load to the carriageand then it is transmitted to the stationary load carrying members 100positioned in the press as the workpiece is formed.

In FIG. 9, the cylindrical member 81 is again referred to and the end 80of the plate 86 is shown in greater detail in the notch 87 forengagement therewith. The cylindrical surface 82a cradles thecylindrical member 81 as previously noted, and it will be noted that theregulating means 65 includes upwardly facing serrations 72 on members 70as well as downwardly facing serrations 73 formed on the hold down block74.

The die arrangement, by including the construction as shown anddescribed, can withstand relatively high unit loading, while stillperforming their proper function and without die abrading the metalworkpiece.

The press is operated by any suitable power source, such as hydraulicmeans to move the male die 37' down into engagement with the workpieceto form it and then to retract the male die 37 when the forming iscompleted.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A female die and workpiece arrangement for a press comprising:

a. opposed cylindrical members;

b. opposed support means for said cylindrical members, said supportmeans including:

a. a cylindrical surface conforming with the cylindrical surface on saidcylindrical members for engaging and supporting said cylindrical membersfor rotation on said cylindrical surfaces; and

b. means for regulating the distance between said opposed support meansto thereby position said opposed cylindrical members a desired distanceapart, said regulating means including:

1. members arranged laterally relative to said opposed support means,said members having upwardly facing serrations thereon; and

2. block means positioned on and longitudinally aligned with saidmembers for abutting against the rear of said support means, said blockmeans being shorter in length than said members and having downwardlyfacing serrations for engaging a preselected number of said upwardlyfacing serrations on said members whereby the distance between saidopposed support means may be adjusted and maintained at any desiredpredetermined amount by placing said block means at any preselectedposition on said members with said serrations in mating engagement;

carriage means upon which said support means are carried;

means for moving said carriage into and away from the press including:

a. track means; and b. roller means mounted on said carriage forengaging and moving along said track means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said carriage inciudes:

a. a plurality of support arms extending laterally relative to one ofsaid opposed support means;

b. said support arms being positioned at spaced intervals longitudinallyof said carriage for supporting a workpiece;

c. said support arms each being pivotally connected at one end to one ofsaid support means;

d. said support arms each including a plate extending longitudinallythereof and being longer than said support arms, said plate beingsecured at one end to one of said cylindrical members;

e. said support arms each having roller means adjacent its other endfor'engaging and supporting said plate in relation to said arms;

f. said plate of each support arm including a plurality of spacedrollers carried thereby for engaging the workpiece; and

g. means to pivot said support arms upwardly to maintain said rollers oneach of said plates in supporting relationship with the workpiece as theworkpiece is shaped by the press.

nm m s m

1. A female die and workpiece arrangement for a press comprising: a.opposed cylindrical members; b. opposed support means for saidcylindrical members, said support means including: a. a cylindricalsurface conforming with the cylindrical surface on said cylindricalmembers for engaging and supporting said cylindrical members forrotation on said cylindrical surfaces; and b. means for regulating thedistance between said opposed support means to thereby position saidopposed cylindrical members a desired distance apart, said regulatingmeans including:
 1. members arranged laterally relative to said opposedsupport means, said members having upwardly facing serrations thereon;and
 2. block means positioned on and longitudinally aligned with saidmembers for abutting against the rear of said support means, said blockmeans being shorter in length than said members and having downwardlyfacing serrations for engaging a preselected number of said upwardlyfacing serrations on said members whereby the distance between saidopposed support means may be adjusted and maintained at any desiredpredetermined amount by placing said block means at any preselectedposition on said members with said serrations in mating engagement;carriage means upon which said support means are carried; means formoving said carriage into and away from the press including: a. trackmeans; and b. roller means mounted on said carriage for engaging andmoving along said track means.
 2. block means positioned on andlongitudinally aligned with said members for abutting against the rearof said support means, said block means being shorter in length thansaid members and having downwardly facing serrations for engaging apreselected number of said upwardly facing serrations on said memberswhereby the distance between said opposed support means may be adjustedand maintained at any desired predetermined amount by placing said blockmeans at any preselected position on said members with said serrationsin mating engagement; carriage means upon which said support means arecarried; means for moving said carriage into and away from the pressincluding: a. track means; and b. roller means mounted on said carriagefor engaging and moving along said track means.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said carriage includes: a. a plurality of support armsextending laterally relative to one of said opposed support means; b.said support arms being positioned at spaced intervals longitudinally ofsaid carriage for supporting a workpiece; c. said support arms eachbeing pivotally connected at one end to one of said support means; d.said support arms each including a plate extending longitudinallythereof and being longer than said support arms, said plate beingsecured at one end to one of said cylindrical members; e. said supportarms each having roller means adjacent its other end for engaging andsupporting said plate in relation to said arms; f. said plate of eachsupport arm including a plurality of spaced rollers carried thereby forengaging the workpiece; and g. means to pivot said support arms upwardlyto maintain saId rollers on each of said plates in supportingrelationship with the workpiece as the workpiece is shaped by the press.